Quick-break double-throw switch



B. 0". HORTON.

QUICK BREAK DOUBLE THROW SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1918.

1,400,360. Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

ATTORNEY @VENT I I ,Q. r

UNITED SATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRYSON D. HORTON, 015 DETROIT, MICHIGAN.-

QUICK-BREAK DOUBLE-THROW swrrcir.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BRYSON D. HORTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, and State. of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Quick- Break Double-Throw Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and concise description.

My invention relates to quick break double throw switches of the type in which a quick break is secured at each end of the movement.

One of the objects of this invention is to simplify the construction of quick break double throw switches and to so proportion and design the parts that a very rugged and reliable structure results.

A further object'of this invention is to design a switch in which the operating member or handle may be slowly moved from one position to the other and yet the switch mechanism will be caused to operate in such a manner that a very uick break is secured.

A further object o this invention is to design a quick break mechanism so that the switch may be temporarily retained in neutral position by means of a center stop.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following detailed description.

One of the many possible forms which this invention may take is shown in the accompanying drawing, which illustratesan 1ncased quick break-double throw switch with an outside lockofi' and center stop, tl 1e swltch being in one of its closed positions and shown in perspective.

Referring in detail to the draw ng, 1 designates the usual casing in which these armor clad switches are placed. The switch comprises a plurality of stationary contacts 2 of the spring jaw type and movable contacts 3 which are of the pivot blade type. These contacts 3 are pivoted to a central contact member 4 and are adapted to swing completely over from one stationary contact 2 to the other stationary contact 2. These movable contacts 3 are connected by means of a cross head. This cross head comprises a metal bar 5 and insulating sleeves 6 thereon. Around these sleeves 6 are placed clamping members 7 which are rigidly clamped thereon and serve to hold the sleeves in position on the metal bar 5 and also serve to connect the movable contacts or switch blades 3 with the cross head 5.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentd Dec, 13, 1921;

Application filed June 17, 1918. Serial No. 240,281.

This cross head 5, it will be seen upon reference to the drawing, is in the form of a crank which is pivotally mounted in the case co-axially with the knife blades 3.

The switch is operated through the medium of the operating member 8 which comprises a second pivotally mounted crank member arranged directly above the crank cross head member. This operating crank member 8 is operated from the exterior of the casing by means of a suitable handle 9 which is fastened to the pivot portion bymeans of a hub 10. and is connected thereto by the upright portion 11. This pivot portion of the operating member carries a gear 12 which meshes with an idler 13 which in turn meshes with a third gear 14. This lastmentioned gear 14 is rigidly mounted on a yoke member 15 which comprises two adjustable contacting portions 16 which are carried by the two arms 17 on this yoke member. The operating member is further connected with the cross head 5 by means of the compound link 18 which comprises ra metallic link member with a slotted upper ortion, such slot bein shown at 19, and a caring portion 20 at the lower end adapted to surround the cross head 5. A spring is also carried-inside of this link mechanism and is hooked at its upper end on the operating member 8 and its lower end is hooked on to the bolt 21. This spring is indicated by the reference character 22 and is shown in dotted lines in the figure.

The operation of this device as thus far described 'is as follows Consider the switch as shown in the figure-that is, in one of its two closed posi= tions; Upon movement of the operating member 8 toward the lower side of the figure, the resilient member 22 is put under tension, but such tension is not sufiicient to withdraw the movable contacts from en agement with the stationary contacts. ow; ever, as the operating member rocks over toward the lower portion of the figure, thev wever, when the frictional i re a sufficiently low value, the resilient member 22 which has been placed under tension, serves to quickly withdraw the movable contacts 3 from engagement withthe stationary contacts 2 with a very rapid motion. Upon the continued motion'of the operating member 8 the contact member 16 carried by one of the yoke arms forces the cross head 5 to pass the dead center and over to such a point that the movable contacts engage the second set of stationary contacts. course, upon reverse operation of the switch, the same functioning takes place.

It is to be noted that link 18 and spring 22 are carried intermediate the movable contacts. l/Vhen the parts are properly proportioned and adjusted, the spring 22 in the opening movement will receive enough tension to exert a substantially balanced pull on crosshead 5 even though the contacting portions 16 operate on the crosshead 5 at one end only. The contact portions 16 are depended upon to move the contacts through the major art of theirimovement. In order, however, that the forces may be balanced, the slot 19 engages with the operating member 8 to force the movable contacts home.

It is often desirable in a quick break double throw switch to provide some type of mechanism whereby the switch is not allowed to pass by a dead center or neutral position inadvertently. This is accomplished by means of the outside lock off and center stop which is shown in dotted lines in the figure, and comprises an attaching plate 30 fastened to the exterior of the casing and hingedly carrying a movable plate 23, which movable plate is provided with a central notch 24 adapted to engage the arm 11 of the operating member. This movable plate 23 is helddown in its extended position by means of the spring 25 and into engagement with. the stop member 26. On this movable plate 23 is pivotally mounted a latch member 27 which is provided with a notch 28 which when the latch member is passed over and around the arm 11 of the operating member, coincides with the notch 24. Thereafter the latch member 27 and movable plate 23 may be securely locked by means of a padlock, not shown, or other suitable device, passing through the then alining openings 29, and this will serve to positively lock the switch in neutral or off position.

In certain classes of electrical work it is desirable that the switch be passed from one extreme limit "of its stroke to the other extreme limit of its stroke with a very rapid motion. This is particularly true in the case of motor startingfor example. This outsidelock oil and center stop above described, also has thefunction of preventing any continuous motion but a rapid one from taking place in an attempt to pass the incense switch from one extreme position to the other, for as the arm 11 passes upwardly it raises the movable plate 23 against action of the spring and when the arm 11 comes opposite the notch 24: the movable plate 23 drops downwardly through the act-ion of the spring 25 and engages the arm 11 and arrests the motion of the switch. If, however, the switch was thrown rapidly from one extreme posit-ion to the other the arm 11 would throw the plate 23' upwardly with a very rapid motion and the momentum thus ture is to temporarily retain the switch in neutral or off position and yet to permit its easy manual release.

lt is desired that the detailed description and drawing be interpreted in an illustrative sense and not in a limiting sense as it is intended that the invention shall be limited only as defined by the following claims:

I claim:

1. A. quick break double throw switch comprising stationary and movable contacts, an operating member, resilient means connecting said operating member and movable contacts, and means for intermittently positively connecting said operating member and movable contacts, comprising an individually adjustable member for each throw.

2. A quick break double throw switch comprising stationary and movable contacts, an operating member, resilient means connecting said operating member and movable contacts, and means for intermittently positively connecting said operating member and movable contacts, comprising an individually adjustable auxiliary member for each throw synchronously moved with respect to said operating member.

3. An electric switch having sets of stationary contacts, pivoted movable contacts cooperable with only one set of stationary contacts at a time to open and close connection therebetween, and means for moving the movable contacts into cooperation with either set of fixed contacts comprising a cross head connecting said movable contacts, an operating member, resilient means between said operating member and cross head, and auxiliary means for positively operating said crosshead.

4:. An electric switch having sets of staincense tionary contacts, pivoted movable contacts cooperable with only one set of stationary contacts at a time to open and close connection therebetween, and means for moving the movable contacts into cooperation with either set of fixed contacts comprising a cross head connecting said movable contacts, an operating member, resilient means between said operating member and cross head, and auxiliary means synchronously operated with respect to said operating memher for positively operating said cross head.

5. An electric switch having sets of stationary contacts, pivoted movable contacts 6. An electric switch having sets of sta tionary contacts, pivoted movable contacts cooperable with only one set of stationary contacts at a time to open and close connection therebetween, and means for moving the movable contacts into cooperation with either set of fixed contacts comprising a cross head connecting said movable contacts, an operating member resilient means between said operating member and cross head, and auxiliary means synchronously operated with respect to said operating member for intermittently positively opcrating said cross head.

7. An electric switch having sets of stationary contacts, pivoted movable contacts cooperable with only one set of stationary contacts at a time'to open and close connection therebetween;-and means for moving the movable contacts into cooperation with either set of fixed contacts comprising a cross head connecting said movable contacts,

an operatingmember, resilient means between said operating member and cross head, and a yoke for positively operating said cross head.

8. An electric switch having sets of stationary contacts, pivoted movable contacts coloperable with only one set of stationary contacts at a time to open and close connection therebetweeu, and means for moving the movable contacts into cooperation with either set of fixed contacts comprising a crosshead connecting said movable contacts,

an operating member, resilient means be tween said operating member and cross head, and a yoke having two contacting portions' for positively operating said cross head. i

9. A quick break double throw switch, comprising a plurality of pairs of stationary contacts and a pair of movable contacts, a cross head connecting said movable cor.- tacts, said cross head being pivot-ally mount ed, an operating member, resilient means be tween said operating member and said cross head, and a yoke co-axially mounted witl'i respect to said cross head for positively operating said cross head. i

10. A quick break double throw switch comprising a plurality of pairs of stationary contacts and a pair. of movable contacts, a cross head connecting said movable contacts, said cross head being pivotally mounted, an operating member, resilient means be tween said operating member and said cross head, and a yoke geared to said operating member co-axially mounted with respect to said cross head for positively operating said cross head.

11. A quick break double throw switch comprising a plurality of pairs of stationary contacts and a pair of movable con.- tacts, a cross head connecting said movable contacts, said cross head being pivotally mounted, an operating member having a gear mounted thereon, resilient means between said operating member and cross head, and a yoke co-axially mounted with respect to said cross head and carrying a gear, and an idler gear cooperating with said gears.

12. A quick break double throw switch having two sets of fixed contacts and pivoted movable contacts cooperative with each set of fixed contacts, a pivoted crosshead insulatively interconnecting the movable contacts, an operating member pivoted adjacent the crosshead in axis parallel there-- to, a spring between the crosshead and operating member, and means interconnecting the crosshead and operating member permitting, first, the tensioning of the spring, and next, the forcible removal of the movable contacts from one set of fixed contacts so that the spring may snap them quickly apart, said means being adapted to move the movable contacts into engagement with the other set of fixed contacts.

13. A quick break double throw switch having two sets of fixed contacts and pivoted movable contacts cooperative with each set of fixed contacts, a pivoted crosshead insulatively interconnecting the movable contacts, an operating member pivoted adjacentthe crosshead in axis parallel thereto, a spring between the crosshead and operating member, means interconnecting the crosshead and operating member, permit ting, first, the tensioning of the spring, and next, the forcible removal of the movable contacts from one set of fixed contacts so that the spring may snap them quickly apart, said means being adapted to move the movable contacts into engagement with the other set of fixed. contacts, and means functioning similarly to the aforesaid means whereby, on reversing movement of the operating member, the movable contacts are reversely operated.

14:. An electric switch comprising a casing, sets of fixed contacts, ivoted knife blade contacts cooperable therewith, a U- shaped crosshead pivoted in the Walls of the casing in alinement with the pivot of the knife blades, said crosshead carrying an insulating sleeve, and means for binding the insulating sleeve to the knife blades, and an interiorly mounted lost motion connection for operating the U-shaped crosshead at one end,

15. An electric switch comprising. a casan neooseo ing, sets of fixed contacts, pivoted knife blade contacts coioperable therewith, a U- shaped crosshead pivoted in the walls of the casing in alinement with the pivot of the knife blades, said crosshead carrying an insulating sleeve, and means for binding the insulating sleeve to the knife blades, a U- shaped operating member pivotally mounted in the casing adjacent the crosshead, the depth of the U in the operating member being such that the knife blades freely pass beneath it, a spring interconnecting the operating member and crosshead, and a lost motion connection between the operating member and crosshead.

' BRYSON D. HORTON. 

